Correspondence to Western diseases
Constipation is a common symptom seen in many diseases, like IBS, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and intestinal tumor. It is also seen in elderly and bedridden patients.
An irregular diet such as drinking alcohol or eating spicy foods → creates Fire → accumulation of Heat in the Intestines → burning of fluids → dry stools.
A Yang Excess Constitution or Warm Disease consumes Yin fluids, leading to Dry-Heat in the Intestine.
Anger or worry → damages the Liver → Qi stagnation; lack of exercise → Qi stagnation too. Liver Qi stagnation can overact on SP/ST to produce constipation.
Overwork consumes Qi; seniors, and people recovering from long-term illness, surgery, or labor have weak Qi and Blood. Qi deficiency fails to move the Intestines, and Blood deficiency fails to nourish the Intestines, which creates constipation.
A Yang deficiency constitution creates Cold, which congeals fluids and leads to constipation.
Overall, the most common causes of constipation in the clinic are Heat and Qi and Blood deficiency.
The Chief Pathology is the Large Intestine failing to pass the stools. The Large Intestine is the major organ involved, but it is associated with the Spleen, Stomach, Liver, and Kidney. There are four types of constipation: Cold, Heat, Deficiency, and Excess.